She chuckles under her breath and leans in conspiratorially, but my attention is still on Reid. I can’t help it; he’s a magnet for my attention even if I say otherwise. There’s something about him that I just can’t wrap my head around, and that scares me. The last time that happened, I dated the asshole who turned me into the relationship shrew that I am today.
He’s talking to my brother and one of my neighbors as they hover around the grill while my dad bastes the meat. God, he’s gorgeous. Dustin says something to him, and he throws his head back and laughs, and when he brings his head back down, his gaze lands on mine. And…I can’t look away. We hold each other’s eyes for a good few seconds until one of his eyebrows rises and a smirk takes over one side of his lips.
I shake my head and look back at my mother, who is grinning like a fool, having caught the entire interaction. “You do,” she says. She gives my arm another squeeze before returning her hand to hold her drink.
“I don’t want to start anything.”
She scoffs. “And why not? He’s a handsome man, and we’ve spent a lot of time with him. He’d be perfect for you.”
“Yeah, I thought the same thing about Neil, remember?” I swirl the ice in my cup to keep my attention anywhere but on Reid, who is still watching me.
“You were young. Young love is hard to determine who is worth your time and who isn’t.”
“I’m still young, mom.”
She holds up a finger. “But wiser. I trust that you know what’s good for you, andheis good for you.”
“I’m just not ready,” I say with a sigh, wanting the subject to drop before we get to the part where it’s about my self-esteem.
“But-”
I stand abruptly from the chair. “I’m going to get some more tea.”
Without another word, I head to the house and climb the porch steps. I can feel Reid staring at my back the entire way, and it makes my shoulders bunch to have that much attention on me.
Once inside, I head to the fridge and grab the tea pitcher. Quietly, my mind reeling and my eyes on the verge of tears, Ifill my cup. Then, I turn around to rest against the counter but startle, finding someone else in the kitchen with me.
The kitchen and the dining room are one space, and Reid is leaning against a dining room chair about ten feet from me. His arms are folded across his chest, and his face is expressionless.
I place a hand over my racing heart. “You scared the crap out of me. I didn’t even hear you come in.”
“I wasn’t trying to be sneaky,” he rumbles. God, his voice is like silk. Goosebumps rise over my skin.
We stand there in silence for a few minutes, both of us staring at one another, willing the other to speak what’s on their mind. I start the squirm, but instead of giving in, I grab the pitcher and hold it up. “Thirsty?”
He nods. “But not for a drink.”
I gulp and grip the pitcher tighter. “What do you want, Reid?”
“You,” is his simple answer.
“You don’t even know me,” I say, shaking my head and putting the pitcher and my glass down. I rub at the goose bumps along my arms. “You can’t want someone you don’t know.”
He raises those beautiful eyebrows again. “Are you telling me you don’t feel this weird thing between us?”
I look down at my sandals, a denial on my lips, but I can’t bring myself to say it out loud.
“That’s what I thought.” He takes a step closer. “Why did you lie to me, Avery?”
I snap my gaze back up to his. “About my name?” He nods, and I blow out a breath. “I told you. I have my reasons.”
“And I want to hear them.”
I jut out my chin, hoping to stand my ground as he steps another step in my direction. “No.” I owe him nothing. I won’t give in to this feeling between us.
He cocks his head to the side. “What guys have you dated like me?”
Swallowing thickly, I contemplate the way I want to answer him. I should have never told him that. I should have never shared a piece of me with him, a virtual stranger who is trying to shove himself into my life everywhere I turn. “My last boyfriend. You remind me of him.”
